I hate the fat-shaming and the cliche of girls competing for a bit as plot, because of course that's going to be the most important thing to terms engaging in nightly mortal combat with ghosts: who's hair is shiniest. Stroud can't imagine girls choosing to wear pants with pockets*, so take it as read that he's crap at treating female characters like people. But put all that aside and the mystery and the ghost-fights are quite fun.

The hell? The boys get to wear pants, but the girls have to wear skirts into battle, and never once complain. I suppose I should be grateful he lets them fight, or that he doesn't make them fight backwards in high heels, but really? Why are British authors so weirdly mired in sex roles of 1950s? Rowling does it too, and I just don't get it.